How to Be Black

Baratunde Thurston

Jan 2012 · Harper Collins

About this ebook

New York TimesBestseller

Baratunde Thurston’s comedic memoir chronicles his coming-of-blackness and offers practical advice on everything from “How to Be the Black Friend” to “How to Be the (Next) Black President”.

Have you ever been called “too black” or “not black enough”?

Have you ever befriended or worked with a black person?

Have you ever heard of black people?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, this book is for you. It is also for anyone who can read, possesses intelligence, loves to laugh, and has ever felt a distance between who they know themselves to be and what the world expects.

Raised by a pro-black, Pan-Afrikan single mother during the crack years of 1980s Washington, DC, and educated at Sidwell Friends School and Harvard University, Baratunde Thurston has more than over thirty years' experience being black. Now, through stories of his politically inspired Nigerian name, the heroics of his hippie mother, the murder of his drug-abusing father, and other revelatory black details, he shares with readers of all colors his wisdom and expertise in how to be black.

“As a black woman, this book helped me realize I’m actually a white man.”—Patton Oswalt

 

Ratings and reviews

Very good book, very enlightening, different style of humor & a great lesson in looking at a person as an individual not pre judging because of the color of their skin or their culture.

The best lessons are wrapped in humorous wisdom. Read it. Grow. Have fun. Be a better person by walking in these stylishly well worn shoes for a mile. (Review of a book in a different format.) I did not just enjoy #HTTB, I believed it and believe in it.

It's funny how people try to differentiate themselves with another instead of trying to understand each other. But maybe it was needed to divide and conquer different cultural beliefs and even similarities among two cultures which clash. But takes one to know another and maybe just ignoring the differences that divide is the right type of ignorance we need. Everyone is technically racist- you would much rather see someone of your kind helping you when you're stranded 50 miles off a gas station

About the author

Baratunde Thurston is the director of digital at The Onion, the cofounder of Jack & Jill Politics, a stand-up comedian, and a globe-trotting speaker. He was named one of the 100 most influential African-Americans of 2011 by The Root and one of the 100 most creative people in business by Fast Company magazine. Baratunde resides in Brooklyn and lives on Twitter (@baratunde).